The Shadows of Christmas Past

November 1, 2004
Bestsellers Feehan and Sizemore deliver a pair of sensual holiday novellas, each featuring a female vet who can communicate with animals. In Feehan's Rocky Mountain Miracle
, Maia Armstrong is forced to accompany Cole Steele to his Wyoming ranch a few days before Christmas to try to save his teenage brother Jase's favorite horse. When a blizzard socks them in, Maia learns about Cole and Jase's abusive father, who was especially cruel at Christmastime and who was shot to death a few months earlier. Before long, it becomes apparent that whoever killed evil old dad is looking for something hidden on the ranch—which is where Maia's ability to commune with animals comes in handy. In Sizemore's A Touch of Harry
, vet Marj Piper rescues handsome Harry Blethyin, part-time werewolf/full-time PI, from a pair of dog thieves while he's in canine form. Harry is actually in town to help the council of shapeshifters track down five of their runaway teenage offspring, one of whom is romantically involved with a human girl. As all werefolk know, unions between shapeshifters and humans rarely work out. So what's Harry to do when he finds himself falling in love with Marj? Fans of sexy, over-the-top paranormal romances will enjoy discovering this unusual offering tucked inside their Christmas stocking.

November 15, 2004
Learning that gamester Travis Halliday needs to marry an "acceptable" wife in order to gain his inheritance, Violet Leigh, knowing he wouldn't otherwise be interested in someone as ordinary as she, summarily rejects his proposal-and he promptly leaves for the West Indies. Now, two years later, Violet and Travis find themselves at the same country house party for the Christmas holidays, and this time their relationship takes a very different turn. A pair of admirable, intelligent protagonists make short work of a spiteful beauty and a disreputable card sharp, while a mischievous monkey keeps the action lively in this light-hearted Regency tale. Overflowing with Christmas tradition and entertainments, this is a diverting holiday romance. Veteran Regency author Gedney (The Affair at Greengage Manor) lives in West Lafayette, IN.

Copyright 2004 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.